US-Saudi relations have significantly deteriorated in recent months amid anger in Riyadh over Washington’s decision to launch a war against Iran that has caused massive blowback for the rest of the region, to the extent that the US is reportedly considering pulling troops from the Gulf kingdom.

A Middle Eastern intelligence official told The Times of Israel that relations between the two countries have substantially soured because of the war, partly confirming a Wall Street Journal report on Wednesday.

Saudi Arabia refused to allow the US to use its bases to conduct Project Freedom, which was aimed at breaking Iran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz by escorting stuck ships out of the channel.

Saudi bases and airspace were critical to the operation and Riyadh’s refusal to cooperate forced the US to abort the mission, the WSJ revealed. At the time, US President Donald Trump claimed that it was progress in talks with Iran that led him to call off Project Freedom after less than two days.

Infuriated by the Saudi decision, the White House threatened to hold back the delivery of interceptors that Riyadh had been using to shoot down Iranian missiles and drones, WSJ said, citing US and Arab officials familiar with the matter.

Riyadh subsequently relented and Project Freedom resumed covertly, but the damage wouldn’t be easily undone, US officials said.

The US is now considering reducing its military presence in Saudi Arabia, US officials told the Journal.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited the Gulf last week, making stops in the UAE, Kuwait and Bahrain, in what Riyadh viewed as a snub, WSJ said.

A week earlier, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman turned down an invitation to participate in a G7 summit in France........

© The Times of Israel